Nation

Bar slams police action

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Bar has condemned the alleged use of excessive force by the police during the recent Bersih 3.0 rally.

In passing a 12-point resolution almost unanimously at its extraordinary general meeting here yesterday, Bar Council chairman Lim Chee Wee noted that the attendance even surpassed that of its annual general meeting in March.

Of the 1,270 members who attended, 939 voted for the resolution calling for, among others, the Home Minister and the Inspector-General of Police to issue a public apology.

“The Bar Council is pleasantly surprised with the turnout,” Lim told reporters after the meeting.

He said the high attendance indicated that members viewed “very seriously” what had transpired during the April 28 rally.

In the resolution, the Bar Council also renewed its call for a Royal Commission to “enhance the operation and management” of the police as well as for the setting-up of an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission.

With the resolutions passed, Lim said the Bar Council would attempt to engage the Attorney-General, police chief, Home Minister and the Prime Minister to seek their views.

He said a memorandum might be handed over to the Prime Minister and did not discount yet another lawyer's march.

A handful of lawyers also criticised the Bar Council for allegedly “taking a partisan stand towards the rally participants”.

Some also tweeted that a lawyer was jeered for condemning the council, saying he was ashamed at being a Malaysian Bar member.

Meanwhile, a fuming Abu Backer Sidek from the Selangor Bar urged the Government to form another Bar Council.

“I am sad and ashamed,” he said. “I hope the Government will give us an alternative. A lot of us don't want to be members of this stupid Bar.”